Chinese Vice Premier urges Asian leaders to resist protectionism in veiled criticism of US
Kyiv • UNN
Chinese Senior Official Ding Xuexiang called for expanded cooperation and opposed protectionism, hinting at destabilizing trade relations with the US. China seeks to attract investment.
High-ranking Chinese official Ding Xuexiang called for expanded global cooperation and opposition to protectionist measures in a thinly veiled criticism aimed at the United States for destabilizing trade and geopolitical relations, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
We must jointly defend the free trade system, support open regionalism and resolutely oppose trade and investment protectionism.
The four-day meeting in Boao in the southern province of Hainan comes as Beijing is stepping up a "charm offensive" to attract foreign investment. China has stepped up efforts to present itself as a reliable partner, while US President Donald Trump is impressing markets with unpredictable tariffs and unnerving US allies with geopolitical maneuvers, the publication writes.
Ding also sought to reassure global investors, highlighting the strength of China's economy and its commitment to innovation. He pointed to recent advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and new energy vehicles as new growth drivers and pledged to expand market access for foreign investors.
"No matter how the external environment changes, China will open wider to the world," he said.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to meet with a group of US company executives in Beijing on Friday.
Addition
The world's second-largest economy is bracing for potentially more tariffs, as a US report on compliance with an earlier trade deal is due to be released on April 1, and Trump plans to impose retaliatory tariffs worldwide the following day. Any new US tariffs on China are likely to be met with retaliatory measures and tensions in relations that have stabilized under the Biden administration, the publication notes.
Trump has said he would consider lowering tariffs imposed on China to enlist Beijing's support in selling US social video platform TikTok to ByteDance Ltd.